Wisconsin Democrats have fled the state to prevent the 19 Republicans from reaching a quorum and thus prevent the passage, at least temporarily, of a measure that could cripple public employee unions in the state:
Wisconsin state Senate Democrats fled the state on Thursday to protest a Republican plan to sharply curtail union rights for public employees, and President Barack Obama weighed in on their side.In other news, the Republican Governor has apparently dispatched law enforcement to try and find the Democratic lawmakers, but it appear they have left the state:
Scheduled debate on the proposal was scrapped because a quorum of 20 senators was needed and there are 19 Republicans. The state House of Representatives also has a Republican majority.
The move produced a frantic political drama, as state troopers were reportedly sent out to find the fleeing lawmakers and Walker hinted that the National Guard would be called in to fill the void left by protesting union workers.
One Democratic senator told the Associated Press that he and his fleeing colleagues are currently in Illinois.
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